Rock April with Us!

Rock april with us!

April is here – and we’ve got plenty coming up🌸

Spring is in full swing and there’s lots happening at Dads Rock this month. From our regular groups and workshops to special events and trips, there are plenty of ways to get involved, meet other dads and spend time with the kids. Make sure to check out our calendar or the links below to see what’s on near you.

We’re especially looking forward to some of our upcoming activities this month, including the Glasgow Kiltwalk, where we’ll be bringing together a team of dads and families to walk, connect and raise funds to support our work across Scotland🚶

We know you all think UK paternity leave is pathetic because you told us in our survey - so come and join us on Wednesday 1st April 12.30pm as we’ll be joining in with the Dad Shift paternity campaign. We’re going to Edinburgh Councils offices at Waverley Court to gift our councillors milk, flowers and eggs labelled with "Lasts longer than UK paternity leave" stickers. The goal is to get local councils to improve their own (currently mostly woeful) paternity leave policies, and in doing so put more pressure on central Government to follow suit. Hopefully we’ll get some press along too, or at least take some photos ourselves to share on socials :) Contact greg@dadsrock.org.uk to let us know you’re coming.

We’re delighted to share that Dads Rock has been nominated for an Ayrshire Charity Award🎉

It’s a real honour to be recognised for the work we do supporting dads, children and families across our communities. This nomination reflects the dedication of our team, volunteers and, of course, the amazing dads who come along to our groups and make Dads Rock what it is.

Thank you to everyone who continues to support us - it really means a lot💙

Groups

If you are wanting to spend some quality time with your wee one(s) and chat with some other local dads, our groups are the place for you.

Most groups run every week but it’s always worth checking the calendar to make sure it’s on.

North Ayrshire: In Irvine we have weekly groups for Dads and their children on Sundays at 10.30am and the Three Towns Dads Group is on Wednesdays at 6.30pm🚴

Glasgow: In Maryhill we have a playgroup on every Saturday at 10am🐝

Edinburgh: In Gorgie we run playgroups every Saturday and Sunday at 10am. On Tuesday evening at 7pm is our Dads and Dice group - a games night for Dads with or without their babies🌻

Dundee: Saturdays the Boomerang Centre 10am🥁

You can sign up to come along to any of our groups: GroupSignUp and check the calendar to see it’s on: WhatsOn

Don’t forget our WhatsApp groups! If you’re not part of our community you can join here: WhatsApp

Trips

North Ayrshire: Join Dads Rock for a fun Easter egg hunt where dads and their children can explore the park, search for eggs and enjoy some time outdoors together. It’s a relaxed and friendly morning designed to bring dads and families together, giving children the chance to play and have fun while meeting other families in the area. It’s a great opportunity to spend quality time with your kids and enjoy some Easter fun Easter egg hunt 🐰🐣🌷🧺

Glasgow: Join Dads Rock for the Glasgow Kiltwalk on Saturday 26th April 2026, where we’ll be taking on the Wee Wander together. This family-friendly walk is a great opportunity for dads and their children to get outdoors, enjoy some fresh air and be part of a wider community event, all while raising vital funds to support the work we do with families across Scotland. There are also longer distances available for those looking for more of a challenge, so there’s something to suit everyone. Dads Rock - Kiltwalk 2026 - Register your interest 🚶‍♂️🏅

Edinburgh: We’re excited to be running Fire Station Trips at Sighthill Fire Station on both Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th April 🚒 These trips are a great opportunity for dads and their children to visit a local fire station, meet real firefighters, and learn more about the important work they do. Families will have the chance to explore the fire engines, see the equipment up close, and maybe even try on some gear! It’s a relaxed, family-friendly outing and a brilliant way to spend time together while learning something new. With two dates available, you can choose the one that suits you best! Saturday Fire station trip‍ ‍Sunday Fire station trip

Workshops

We run free workshops regularly in our different locations across Scotland. There are a range of topics that we cover and this month we will be running:

Raising Children with Confidence Edinburgh- The next course starts on Thursday 9th April from 5:30-6:30pm at Dr Bells, Leith. This course runs over 6 weeks and is designed to support parents and carers with understanding children’s emotional wellbeing and development. Each session covers a different topic, including how early experiences shape your child’s developing brain, helping you feel more confident in supporting them as they grow. Spaces are limited to 10 participants, so email greg@dadsrock.org.uk to book your place.

Dads Antenatal Edinburgh- Come and join us for a hands-on antenatal workshop designed to support dads-to-be with practical skills, advice and a chance to ask any questions. You’ll get experience with things like changing nappies, holding and settling your baby, and what to expect in those early days. Join us on 16th April at 7pm in Edinburgh. Sign up here- Edinburgh Antenatal

Dads Antenatal Glasgow- Come and join us for a hands-on antenatal workshop designed to support dads-to-be with practical skills, advice and a chance to ask any questions. You’ll get experience with things like changing nappies, holding and settling your baby, and what to expect in those early days. Join us on 21st April at 7pm in Glasgow. Sign up here- Glasgow Antenatal

Dads Online Antenatal Workshop- Our Dads Antenatal workshops are here to support dads-to-be with practical skills, support and a space to ask any questions. You can find us via google calendar 29th April 7pm. Sign up here- Antenatal Online

Dads Antenatal Dundee- Dundee come and join usfor a hands on antenatal class, you will get hands on experience of changing nappies and bathing babies. Join us 29th April 7pm at the Boomerang centre Dundee. Sign up here- Dundee Antenatal

Hair workshop Glasgow- We’re also bringing back our popular Hairstyle Workshop for Dads and Children in Glasgow on Saturday 2nd May💇‍♀️ This fun, hands-on session is a great chance for dads to learn practical skills like plaiting, ponytails, and simple hairstyles, with support from our trained team. It’s designed to be relaxed and beginner-friendly, so no experience is needed- just bring your child along with a brush, hair ties, and anything else you’d like to use Hair Workshop This workshop is a great way to build confidence while spending quality time together.

Our workshops are free to attend but donations are always welcome! Theyare a great way to build confidence while spending quality time together.

You can find out more about all our workshops using the link here: Parenting Workshops

Other support

As always we’ll be supporting Young Dads in Edinburgh and Glasgow, New Dads through our PS service and families in Tayside and North Ayrshire.

New for April - We’re supporting Dads in East Ayrshire! Working with the AA Early Years Children and Families Service we’re expanding our services to support more dads and families! Contact ryan@dadsrock.org.uk for more information.

March Round-up

We were delighted to welcome a team from Lloyds Banking Group to our Gorgie Memorial Centre base in Edinburgh this month. They spent the day helping with a range of tasks, from cleaning toys and rugs to painting, tidying up the garden, and even sourcing raffle prizes for our upcoming Father’s Day raffle. Their support made a huge difference to the space, and we’re incredibly grateful for the time and effort they gave - thank you for being such a fantastic help!

We also took some time to reflect on the impact of our work through our 2026 Annual Survey. The feedback we received from dads, families, and professionals was incredibly positive, highlighting the importance of community, connection, and support in improving mental health and confidence. It was great to see how our groups continue to provide a safe, welcoming space for dads, while also supporting the wider family. You can read more about the findings in our blog here— Reflections from our 2026 Annual Survey — Dads Rock

Below is a round up of March photos ⬇️